Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

March

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Monday, August 25, 2025

The Chris Coull Quartet @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - August 24

Chris Coull (trumpet, flugelhorn); Joe Steels (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

The last day of Chris Coull's run of north of England dates found the Brighton based trumpeter in Hexham this afternoon, followed by a final gig in the evening at Newcastle Jazz Co-op's HQ on Railway Street (see LL's review). 

A casual, genial demeanour, Mr C knows how to present a gig, that's for sure. Engaging his audience, frequently name-checking his 'up north' bandmates, all basic stuff really. Ten out of ten. 

And then there was the jazz. Coull's top notch trumpet playing, tipping his hat to many of the great bop/post bop trumpeters - Dizzy, Miles, Clifford, Fats, Lee, Woody et al - and a superb trio to work with. Coull and Steels, that's guitarist Joe Steels, have worked together on numerous occasions, Andy Champion and John Bradford (none better!) sight-reading as they went. At one juncture (an Andy Champion bass solo) Coull quietly exclaimed: Fantastic! 

Joe, who just happens to promote the Queen's Hall 'Sunday Jazz' concert series, played out of his skin. Brilliant! As a semi-scratch quartet, this edition of the Chris Coull Quartet, couldn't be bettered. A marvellous afternoon. Next month's Queen's Hall concert (Sun. 21 Sept.) features the up-and-coming young trumpeter James Borland. Russell 

Set list included: For Gigi; Ceora; Prelude to a Kiss; Philly Twist; No More Blues; Joy Spring; Ask Me Now; Pedro's Time; Trane's Blues; Doxy.
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